Chapter 22: A Glimpse into the Abyss

[Shinji's Perspective]

The moment my Shadow Clone disappeared, I felt something was wrong. My clone shouldn't have been defeated so easily. Then, the memories flooded into me. My body tensed, and without hesitation, I sprinted toward the training ground where my friends had been fighting. Jiraiya-sensei followed without question—he already knew from my expression that something serious had happened.

When I arrived, I saw my friends gathered around Fumiko, who lay unmoving, her eyes wide in sheer terror. Akane knelt beside her, shaking her shoulders gently, calling her name, but Fumiko didn't respond.

I clenched my fists. I knew what had happened.

"What do you do when someone is trapped in a terrifying genjutsu?" I asked, my voice tense.

Jiraiya sighed. "You use another genjutsu."

Without hesitation, he knelt beside her, placing two fingers on her forehead. A soft glow surrounded his fingertips as he whispered an incantation. Slowly, Fumiko's expression shifted—her body, previously stiff with fear, began to relax. Finally, her breath steadied, and she blinked before looking around in confusion.

Then her gaze landed on me.

And she started crying.

Akane wrapped an arm around her, whispering reassurances, but the damage had been done. She wouldn't even look in my direction.

I felt a pit form in my stomach.

Jiraiya finally spoke, his tone neutral but piercing. "What did you do to her for her to react like this?"

I swallowed hard. "I… I didn't do anything."

Shigeo crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Then explain what happened."

I exhaled, gathering my thoughts. "She tried to use Mind Transfer Jutsu on my Shadow Clone. The moment she did, she screamed and collapsed. My clone, seeing that, immediately dispelled itself. That's all I know."

A heavy silence filled the air.

Shigeo frowned. "So you're saying you didn't trap her in some kind of… shadow-based genjutsu?"

I shook my head. "No. I didn't even know this would happen."

Akane pursed her lips. "Then… what the hell did she see?"

I had no answer.

Everyone's expressions ranged from confusion to suspicion. Even Jiraiya was looking at me like I was some kind of unknown entity.

Finally, Fumiko, her voice hoarse, spoke. "It wasn't his fault."

We all turned to her as she wiped her tear-streaked face. "I shouldn't have used my jutsu on him… that's on me."

Jiraiya crouched beside her, his tone gentle. "Can you tell us what you saw?"

She hesitated. "I… I need to, don't I?"

Jiraiya nodded. "Only if you can."

Fumiko took a shaky breath and began. "The moment I entered Shinji's mind, it was… wrong. There was no structure—no thoughts, no emotions, just… an abyss. A void with no end. I kept falling deeper and deeper, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop. The darkness was alive, shifting and twisting, whispering things I couldn't understand."

She paused, her hands trembling. "Then… I saw something."

The air around us seemed to grow colder.

"I don't remember what it looked like. My mind just… won't let me. But it was watching me. It spoke to me, but its voice wasn't human." She swallowed hard. "It said… 'You don't belong here.'"

Everyone went silent.

Jiraiya's face darkened. He looked at me with undisguised concern.

Fumiko forced a weak smile, though her eyes were still glassy with fear. "I've seen the Nine-Tails during the attack when I was little. But this? This was worse."

I stiffened.

Worse than the Nine-Tails?

I had assumed she must have somehow glimpsed Mahoraga, but no… Mahoraga doesn't speak.

"I don't know what it was," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jiraiya exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Shinji, you have secrets—secrets even you don't know about. Until we figure them out, we need to be careful."

He turned to the others. "You all should head home. Fumiko, get checked at the hospital just in case."

Fumiko looked at me hesitantly before forcing another smile. "Don't worry, Shinji. I'll be fine. And… don't blame yourself. I know it wasn't your fault."

Akane gave me a reassuring nod before guiding her away. One by one, my friends left, though their expressions were filled with conflicted emotions.

Finally, only Jiraiya and I remained.

[Jiraiya's Perspective]

I studied the boy before me.

For the first time, I wasn't sure what Shinji was.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, my voice unusually serious.

Shinji's normally confident expression was shaken. "I… I don't know. I can drag people into my shadow, but I've never actually done it before. I had no idea what would happen if someone's mind entered mine."

I tapped my fingers on my arm, thinking. Shinji's abilities had always been a mystery, but I had assumed they were a result of his connection to natural energy. Now? It felt more like something was sealed inside him—something ancient and unnatural.

"Shinji," I said carefully, "when you enter your shadow, do you see the same thing Fumiko did?"

He shook his head immediately. "No. It's dark, but it's not… that. I can still see outside my shadow when I'm in it. I don't feel trapped."

I frowned. "Then whatever she saw isn't you."

Shinji's expression darkened. He had come to the same conclusion.

I exhaled sharply. "Listen, kid. Until we figure out what's lurking inside you, don't go around taming more of those shadow creatures. Not until we understand the nature of your power."

His brows furrowed. "But how else am I supposed to—"

"I'll train you," I cut in. "You want to be the strongest, right? Then be patient."

He gritted his teeth but eventually sighed. "Fine. I'll hold off… for now."

I relaxed slightly. At least he was listening.

Still, this changed everything.

If my theory was correct…

Shinji wasn't just a shinobi with a rare ability.

He was something else entirely.

[Shinji's Perspective]

After the break was over, the Academy restarted with a new batch of students, and all of us entered our second year. As I entered the class, I was nervous. Would everything be the same? Or would they treat me like some unknown monster who could harm them?

At first, I didn't care about how others saw me. I always thought I would be alone in this world like I was in the previous one. I had friends before, but never the kind that would stick with me if I lost everything. But now? Now, I feared losing the real friends I had made in this new life.

But as soon as I entered the classroom… everything was the same.

Laughter, discussions, the usual atmosphere. And when I looked toward my group, they were all smiling at me. Not one of them had fear or caution in their eyes.

"Shinji, what are you doing there standing like an idiot? Come here." Akira called out.

I walked toward them, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly touched by their friendship. We all started discussing random things like that incident had never happened. Even Fumiko was speaking comfortably now.

Akane nudged me. "Are you alright? You didn't meet us after the fight. I was worried, you know."

I hesitated. Should I tell them I was scared to face them after?

But when I saw her smile, I knew I didn't need to.

Then, Shinzo-sensei entered the class and spoke. "From today, your second year begins. Some students graduate from the Academy in their second year, so prepare accordingly."

His eyes landed on me. "And Shinji, meet me after class."

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